“I promise. You know I can keep a secret. When is he going to do it? Do you know how? This is so exciting!”
“This weekend. They’re going to Aruba. I’m not sure how he plans on proposing, but I did help him pick out the ring. He’s been a mess about this. It is kind of fun to watch him so stressed.”
“Aruba must be beautiful. I’m sure everything will work out great. Be nice to him.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be nice.” I wink at her, smiling, before putting on my blazer. “Ready?” I reach out my hand to hold hers.
“Yes, I need to leave before traffic gets chaotic.” She faces me, her heels bringing her closer to eye level, and kisses me on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“For what? I should be thanking you for having faith in me.”
“For last night and this morning. For asking me to spend the night, and for never giving up on us despite all the crap we went through. And mostly, for still being the same man. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but you’re still you.”
“Of course I am. I know my actions haven’t been a good reflection of that person, but I’m still me.” I need her to understand that what I did was a reaction out of fear not because I changed as a person.
“I know,” she whispers and smiles tenderly. I pull her into a hug, holding her tightly, hoping she can feel how much I love her through this embrace.
“So are you going to come over again tonight? We can order take out, watch TV, whatever you want.”
“I’d love to, but I need to pack for Paris. Do I tell Elle you’re going?”
“Yes. I’ll let them know today at work that I need a week off. I’ll pack and go over. I’ll help you pick out a few outfits.” Ava chuckles at my insinuation and leads us out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
Picking up her purse, she turns to me and says, “I do have a few new pieces of lingerie for you to choose from.” She smiles wickedly and kisses me. Well, fuck me. I have some lingerie to pick out. Maybe I’ll make her try them on and show them off to me.
We walk down to the lobby of my apartment building and out the tall glass doors to valet. Ava’s navy blue BMW pulls up at the curb. “See you tonight.” I kiss her gently. “I’ll call you when I get out of work.” I open the car door for her, and as she slides in, I tell her I love her and kiss her again. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of doing that.
“Bye. Love you, too,” she says before I close the door for her to drive off. At this rate, I’d keep her in my apartment all day and not go to work. We have too much time to make up for, and I could spend every second with her.
My car pulls up a few seconds after, and I drive off to work, ready to tell them I need to take a week off. I work my ass off, and I deserve a vacation. All the major projects are done, so there’s no excuse.
I go straight to see my supervisor before even making it to my office. “Good morning, Steve. I need to talk to you.”
“Sure. Come in and take a seat. How are you?” Steve greets me formally.
“I’m doing great, thanks. I need to take a week off, starting this Thursday. I know it’s short notice, but I have a trip planned that I can’t miss.” I get straight to the point.
“It is short notice. All your projects are up to date, correct? You’ll be out until next Thursday?”
“Yes, they are. Connell is set. He’s my biggest client, and he’s already done with the merger. Preferably until next Friday.” I’d rather take that extra day after we return. I have big plans for when we get back, and I can use the day to work them out.
“That’s fine, just make sure you’re connected somehow while you’re away in case we need to reach you.”
“My phone will be working. Anything you need, just call or e-mail me.” I stand ready to head to my office. “Thanks, Steve.”
“No problem,” he says, nodding his head.
I stop by Dan’s office to see how he’s doing and hear how the preparations for his trip are going. I should probably let him know I won’t be in town for a week.
I catch him up on what’s been going on with Ava from our date Sunday and last night. I mention the trip to Paris.
“Well fuck me, it’s about time. Can’t believe she’s going to let your ass go with her to Paris. You’re a lucky son of a bitch.”
“You really do have a way with words. I hope your proposal is just as endearing.”
“Fuck you. I save my pretty words for Jess, but if you want me to sweet-talk you, I can. Do you prefer babe or cutie?” I roll my eyes at his sarcasm. He’s a real piece of work.
“By the way, Ava knows you’re going to propose.” Just to fuck with him, I bring it up.
His face changes completely. “You told her? What the hell, man?”
“I didn’t tell her, and I thought you were sticking to babe or cutie? I’m just your man now?” I joke. “She put the pieces together. Apparently you were an annoying ass while Jess went over to the apartment to look at Ava’s photographs. You kept texting her about going away. Ava knows you, she figured something was off.”
“Damn! She better not tell anyone. I swear if this surprise is ruined, I’m going to kill someone.”
“Relax. You know she won’t tell anyone. She was excited as fuck for you.”
We talk for a few more minutes. I tell him how I hope to have Ava move in with me when we return from Paris, and how I’m excited to go with her on this trip.
Once in my office, I get to work. I draft an e-mail to send to my clients letting them know I’ll be out of the office, but that they can reach me via cell phone or e-mail if they need me. I don’t want to be working while we’re away, but I do need to make sure anyone can reach me in case there’s an emergency that needs to be sorted. I’m sure that probably won’t happen, but I need to keep my clients happy.
Halfway through the morning, my phone vibrates, alerting me that I’ve received a text message.
Everything is set for our trip. Thank you for coming with me. Can’t wait to spend a week away with you. Knowing Ava is excited to go on this trip with me makes me fucking happy.
Neither can I. Everything is set here, too. Dan freaked when I told him you knew. His face was priceless. It was fun. Can’t wait to pack your lingerie later tonight.
I’ll make sure to pack a bag to take to Ava’s also. I plan on staying the night, that is if today ever ends. The minutes are slowly ticking by, making me impatient to see her again. Man, I have it worse than I thought.
Chapter 27
Ava
There is nothing like breathing in the Paris air. I absolutely love this city. It feels like home to me, and being here with Ethan makes it even more perfect.
We got in early this morning and checked into our hotel. Elle was very kind to book us a suite and arrange all our preparations. She scheduled for me to meet a few artists and curators at the fair. The art fair begins tomorrow and runs until Monday, so we rested a bit when we arrived and are now making our way around the city.
I want to show Ethan a few places I visited while I was here, and spend time together exploring Paris. The past few days have been amazing. He spent the last few nights at my apartment, refusing to sleep in his own bed when he could sleep with me. Each day we’ve gotten closer, if that’s even possible, and I know in my heart that this time there’s no turning back or walking away.
We make our way down a narrow street, our fingers intertwined, a calming sense of peace washing over me. The last time I was here, I was imagining Ethan in every corner. This time, he’s here with me. It’s only been a couple of months since I left Europe and already so much has happened. The life I left behind when I escaped to Europe and the life I thought I was returning to—one full of heartache, pain and regret—are completely different than the life I am currently living.
After everything I’ve endured, I deserve to be happy, as happy as I once was before the storm swept in, shutting off the lights in my life. But they say you must pass through the storm to grow deeper roots, and I now know
that’s true. My will to live and the way I look at things has been altered because I’ve been face to face with death. I know what it feels like to have your life almost slip away, and have the love of your life walk out on you unannounced.
People may not believe in soulmates, but I do because ever since I was a little girl, my soulmate was always by my side, first as a friend, then as a lover. And there is no greater joy than when those two things collide. There is also no greater pain than when that person is no longer in your life. I’ve known love and loss, pain and happiness, but when your soulmate is missing, it’s like half of you is wandering lost in a darkened alleyway with no end in sight.
Looking over at Ethan, I smile as the sunrays shine through the buildings and land on part of him, resurfacing the light we thought was permanently shut off. Wanting to savor this moment, I force us to stop walking and lean into him, pausing time for a little while to feel his warmth envelop me.
I wrap my arms around his waist and look up into his eyes, smiling warmly. “I love you.” I reach up on my tiptoes and give him a peck on the lips and snuggle my face into his chest, his arms holding me tightly.
“I love you, too,” Ethan whispers into my ear, chills running down my neck at the feel of his warm breath against my skin, and I squeeze him tighter. I want to stay like this forever, wrapped safely in his arms. “Let’s go get something to eat. Where do you want to go?”
I look around my surroundings, and I know just the place. We aren’t far from Ma Lumière De Vie, and it’s appropriate to take him there. Not only because this is where I first envisioned him so clearly and missed him like crazy, but also because he is the light of my life. We continue to walk, my oversized sweater draping over my leather leggings, keeping me warm in the brisk spring weather, and I lead the way to the bistro.
We take a seat out in the terrace and the waiter comes to our table almost immediately. “Mademoiselle, it’s been so long since you’ve been here.” I look up, scrunching my nose. It’s the same waiter from the first time I sat here. He remembers me? “I never forget the face of a beautiful lady. You looked so sad then. Now you have a light of happiness shining around you.” He looks over at Ethan, his English heavy with a French accent, but it speaks the truth. I blush at his observation.
“Hello. Thank you.” I’m not sure what else to say. If I look over at Ethan, I’m not sure if I’ll see a smug expression for being the one to make me happy or an expression of regret, so I focus on the waiter and order a glass of wine. Ethan orders the same and the waiter leaves us to look through the menu.
“I’m sorry.” I look up at Ethan, a saddened expression darkening his emerald eyes.
“We’ve gone through this. It’s okay. Yes, I was hurt. Yes, I was upset and confused, but we’re moving forward. And I want to move forward with you. That means we can’t let the past haunt us. It sucks. It’s shitty, but it is what it is. We either accept it and move forward together, or we let it tear us apart...again.”
Reaching over the table for my hand, Ethan kisses the inside of my wrist. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“Yes, but you can keep on saying it.”
“Good. Now let’s order. I’m hungry and want to continue exploring with you.”
Grabbing my camera, I snap a few shots of Ethan while we wait for our food. First he’s smiling, and then he sticks his tongue out, being silly and making me laugh. I continue to snap, laughing at his expression, the camera shaking in my hands. The last photo is a different one. His face is serious, tenderness in his eyes as he stares at me with a combination of love and lust, causing me to stop laughing as desire washes over me.
Every time he looks at me that way, it affects me on so many levels. I can see the love he feels and our attraction is palpable. “I love to see you laugh, even more when I know I’m the reason. Come here.” He reaches his hand out, pulling me to my feet and sitting me on his lap.
He grabs the camera and points it to us, taking photos of us. He leans in to kiss me, still snapping photos of us, and I’m sure we’re causing a bit of a scene amongst the Parisians. Our lips separate just as the waiter is coming to our table with our food. I blush slightly at the few stares we’re receiving, and give Ethan a chaste kiss before returning to my seat.
Our waiter places our food in front of us, smiling, and leaves us to return to our intimate lunch. My onion soup smells delicious, bubbling cheese oozing over the edge of the bowl. The delectable aroma of Ethan’s lamb swirls in the breeze as we both indulge in our first meal in Paris together.
We talk leisurely as we eat and enjoy our wine, watching people pass by us. We plan out tomorrow. I’ll be at the art fair in the morning from 9:00 until 2:00, so we can have lunch. Then at night there is a charity reception we can both attend. The fair continues the rest of the weekend with a similar schedule, and then we have a few days to ourselves to enjoy the city and each other.
I think Elle planned it that way. She knew the art fair was just a few days, so why extend the trip and allow Ethan to come with me, all expenses paid. Maybe she knows more about my past than I thought. Regardless, that is incredibly thoughtful of her.
After we finish eating, we continue to continue to walk around the city. I stop every so often to take pictures of different things that catch my eye, including Ethan. We’re walking along the side of the Seine River, the Eiffel Tower in the distance, overlooking the city. We’re two fools in love, stopping every few minutes to steal a kiss from the other, our hands never lessening the hold they have on each other, and the secret smiles we exchange that only we understand.
We wander freely, stopping at a bakery that led us through the door with its mouthwatering aroma, and order pastries to take with us. We make our way to a park nearby to enjoy our treats and rest our feet, sitting down on the crisp grass, allowing the sunshine to warm us. After we devour our pastries, Ethan’s hand snakes over to mine and pulls me onto him. He looks into my eyes, the green in his shimmering brighter. “I love to see you so happy.” He begins to kiss me slowly at first, taking his time connecting with my lips, our tongues dancing lazily together.
In a matter of seconds, his mouth has picked up speed and is demanding more from me. His hands rake across the sides of my body as my lips follow his, longing to taste more of him. Unaware of our surroundings or the people watching us, we get lost in each other. Desire pools at my core, I feel my wetness begin to spread, and we need to stop before we get carried away.
“Ethan…” I murmur against his lips. “We should probably stop. The French aren’t too keen on PDA.”
Stealing one more kiss, I move off him and stand, reaching down to help him up. “Give me a minute,” he says without taking my hand. I look at him quizzically. He looks down at his pants and raises his eyebrows.
“Gotta think about squirrels?” I laugh, teasing him.
“I’ll think about squirrels if it means being able to have you in my arms, but right now, I want to take you back to the suite and not think about anything else but having my lips all over your body.” I squirm at his assertiveness and challenge him.
“Well, I do believe we should get some rest then.” He stands up, holds my hand and begins to lead the way.
“We’re going back to the suite, but we’re definitely not resting.” I laugh without restraint and keep up with his pace.
Twenty minutes later, we’re in the elevator of the hotel riding up to our floor. His hand reaches out and caresses my skin before pulling me into him, pressing my body flush against his. This time, I’m the one that kisses him. My lips touch his, and I feel the fire that burns between us. I push him back against the elevator wall as our mouths dance passionately and our bodies mold together.
The ding of the elevator brings us back to reality, notifying us that we’ve reached our destination. I walk out of the elevator, looking over my shoulder at him and smiling. His arms wrap around my waist, staying behind me, his lips on my neck, as we make our way to our suite.
> I pull out the room key, open the door, and lead us inside without breaking our hold. Once inside, I turn around in his arms and lazily kiss him, feeling the tension build between us. His hands reach for the hem of my sweater, lifting it over my head, and exposing my blush pink lace bra.
He smiles appreciatively as his hands roam from my shoulders, over my breasts, and down the sides of my body. My nipples harden, becoming more visible behind the thin lace material. He brings me closer to him, pulling me by the ass. His lips nip my ear and move down from my jaw to the base of my neck, leaving a trail of lust on my skin.
I reach for his belt buckle, and begin to undo his pants. I want him now. I loosen his pants, and let them drop to the floor, leaving him in his boxer briefs. He steps out of them, moving us until my back hits the wall.
My hands trail down to reach into his briefs, but he stops me midway, holding my hands over my head with his left hand and locking them in place against the wall. His right hand travels down my body, and his lips move from my right shoulder down to my breasts. He licks and grazes his teeth over my sensitive nipples, only the thin material of my bra separating his mouth from my skin.
His right hand reaches into the back of my leggings, grabbing my ass seductively, and pulling my core into his hardened length. I moan involuntarily, and his hand moves around to the front and begins to rub my clit over my matching lace thong.
My breathing speeds up and my heart begins to race, he moves my underwear to the side before thrusting a finger inside me, his thumb drawing circles over my clit. His mouth moves to my other breast, following the same attack it just had on the first one.
“Ethan,” I moan, my hips beginning to buck against his fingers. “Please…” His lips move up to mine, savoring my mouth and I his.
He releases my hands and picks me up by my thighs, my legs wrapping around him. He pushes into me, and I feel all of him against my wet core. I kiss him fervently, making him aware of what I want.
He suddenly walks us to the bedroom, dropping me on my back carefully. He begins to undo each button of his shirt, teasing me. I prop myself up on my elbows, and I rake my eyes over his body, appreciating every inch and every muscle as he exposes himself to me. I kick off my booties, suddenly very hot and continue to watch him undress until he is in nothing but his boxer briefs and he begins to walk towards me.
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